Iran set to build more nuclear plants
press tv
Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:24:21 GMT
Deputy Head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission in
Iranian Parliament, Esmaeil Kowsari
Iran’s authorities are determined to launch more nuclear power plants
across the country, a prominent Iranian parliamentarian has stated.
"The start up of the Bushehr nuclear power plant made clear that the
Iranian government and nation have an indomitable spirit for progress
towards utilization of new energy sources," deputy head of the National
Security and Foreign Policy Commission in Iran’s Parliament, Esmaeil
Kowsari, said in an exclusive interview with IRNA News Agency on
Saturday.
The Iranian lawmaker highlighted that following the victory of the
Islamic Revolution in Iran, western states rescinded their contracts
under which they were liable to construct and complete the Bushehr
plant. The pre-commission of the Bushehr nuclear power plant,
nevertheless, made clear that Iran relies upon its professionals and is
resolved to set up other nuclear plants elsewhere in the country.
Iranian technicians walk outside the reactor building of Bushehr
nuclear plant.
"The Bushehr plant will generate some 250 megawatts of electricity by
September 2009 and another 250 megawatts by the end of next Iranian
year (ending March 21, 2010)," he said.
The Iranian nation under the visionary leadership of the late Imam
Khomeini struggled for control of the country’s infrastructure – a
matter earlier assumed by outsiders. Foreign firms, in return,
repudiated their projects with an aim to indicate they are not
committed to their contractual obligations.
Kowsari noted that Iran intends to build the 360mw Darkhoein nuclear
power plant in the south of the country through domestic technical
know-how.
A Russian technician works in the control room of Bushehr nuclear power
plant.
Iran on Wednesday pre-commissioned its Bushehr nuclear power plant at a
ceremony attended by the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization
Gholam Reza Aghazadeh as well as the head of Russia’s state nuclear
company, Sergei Kiriyenko.
Pre-commissioning is an important step before the actual commissioning
of the power plant located in Iran’s southwest.
The West remains critical of Russia’s involvement in building Iran’s
first nuclear power plant. Moscow says the plant is purely civilian and
cannot be used for any weapons’ program.
Russia last year completed delivery of nuclear fuel to the station
under a total contract estimated to be worth about USD 1b.
Moscow says the plant poses no proliferation risk, as Iran will return
all spent fuel rods to Russia.
The West accuses Iran of covertly seeking to build nuclear weapons,
something Tehran denies. The Islamic Republic of Iran insists its
nuclear activities are merely aimed at generating electricity in a bid
to meet its soaring energy demand.